NYT: New Ford F-150 Shows Detroit Doesn't "Get It"

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

The New York Times wants everyone everywhere to drive fuel-efficient automobiles or, preferably, take the subway. The Gray Lady’s Op Ed staff view SUV and pickup drivers as intellectually, politically, environmentally and morally corrupt. At the moment, the Times has won the day; new federal regulations force automakers to sell fuel-sippers or die– at least until they can figure-out a way to queer the system. But don’t expect magnanimity from the Big Apple Boyz. They see Ford’s new F-150, one of America’s most popular vehicles, as recidivism of the worst sort. “We fear that a $1.50 drop in gas prices was all it took to blunt Detroit’s newfound fervor for energy efficiency. Just a few weeks ago, the Big Three American automakers convinced Congress to give them $25 billion in cheap loans to retool their plants to make fuel-efficient cars. Then, with nary a blush, the Ford Motor Company introduced the new star in its line: the 2009, 3-ton, 16-miles-per-gallon, F-150 pickup.” The nerve! The fact that the new F-150 is the most fuel-efficient full-size pickup truck on the market doesn’t seem to matter. Ford– and by extension Detroit– just aren’t trying hard enough…

“As for that commitment to fuel economy? The new trucks should be 8 percent more fuel efficient than the 2008 models, on average — which means that they still use about 50 percent more gas per mile than, say, a Honda Accord.” The NYT ends their tire-rade with the usual condescension. “They evidently haven’t learned enough from their mistakes. Perhaps Congress, from which the automakers are lobbying for more taxpayer money, can help correct their ways — at the very least — by attaching strict fuel-economy requirements to any future aid.” Uh, hello? The $25b Department of Energy no- to low-interest loans mandate that the subsidized vehciles are 25 percent more fuel-efficient than the ones they replace– at least until they can figure-out a way to queer the system.

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

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  • Fallout11 Fallout11 on Nov 13, 2008

    Given that the average "new" (under 2 years old) fullsize truck in North America is carrying truckbed cargo and/or towing something less than 1% of the time (proof: Go out and look in the parking lot.....any parking lot, or watch traffic for a bit), Ford is wasting precious time and energy on a market that really only exists in the mind. Real working men who require a "work truck" (i.e one to haul rusty scrap or cinderblocks or pipe fittings or drywall) don't buy new $40,000 vehicles and then get paint/drywall/pipe dope on the leather seats and mud in the carpet. Not when a 3-5 year old model can be had for 1/2 that. Rather, pickup trucks (as some on here have aptly noted) have become the new Cadillac or Buick from 40 years ago, gone are the days of the hoseout interior and actual sweat and dirt. A bling ride for the macho man. In this respect the NYT may have a point. Note that while Ford worked on the 2nd refresh of the F-150 this decade, a new vehicle that will barely fit into a parking space and with bedsides so high the average 6' man cannot reach over them, the arguably more utilitarian and once more commonly seen Ranger languishes into obsolescence. Where is it's replacement?

  • Nobubbas Nobubbas on Nov 17, 2008

    Those who think its their "god given right" to drive an truck have no sense of social responsibility and in the end not only screw others but screw themselves. I am sure many of them are those same, keeping-up-with-the-Jones, irresponsible fools who bought homes in the last few years that they couldn't afford with option arm loans with teaser rates. Or who took out huge home equity loans so they could finance their Escalade or put that 2 foot lift and monster truck tires on their F-250 4x4. And now that the teaser rate is gone or they just can't pay because they spent the money on flat screens and tail gate parties they are simply walking away from the house with little repercussions. Just because its legal does not make it the right thing to do. Let the auto-makers fail. Bailouts whether homeowners or auto-maker are just rewarding bad behavoir.

  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
  • ToolGuy Ford is good at drifting all right... 😉
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